Holy shit. It’s hard to concentrate. I clear my throat. “Well, still.” I look forward. “I’m your employee now, so … ”
The elevator door opens and we wait for the riders to file out. When we step inside, Oliver pushes the button for the lower level. More people enter the small space, and the three of us move over to make room. By the time the door closes, we’re squashed in the corner. My back ends up pressed against Latson’s chest while Oliver stands in front of me. I set my hands on the little boy’s shoulders in an attempt to distract myself from the feeling of his uncle’s hard muscles against my back.
As the elevator descends, Latson finds my ear again. “Do you have any more reasons to avoid letting me down?”
His breath against my skin causes heat to slide down my neck and leave goose bumps in its wake. I don’t want him to notice, so I turn and peek over my shoulder.
“You’re wearing another plain white tee,” I sniff. “Obviously you don’t own any other clothes. I can’t be seen with you. Other than professionally, of course.”
Latson laughs and I feel the vibration through my shirt. “You’re going to have to do better than that,” he murmurs.
His words sound like a dare.
Chapter Eight
Two days later, my brother leans over the bar above me. “Are you feeling any better?”
I finish tapping a keg and stand, holding my stomach. “Not really,” I say. “What was in that pizza?”
Last night, Jules and Pete decided to forego the health food and introduce me to the world of Chicago-style deep dish pizza. It was all they promised it would be: thick, covered in chunky tomato sauce, and dripping with cheese. I’m not ashamed to say more than one piece went down without a problem.
“Just your standard stuff,” Pete says. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you home?”
I know he would like that, seeing as how this is my first day as an official employee at Torque. “No.” I shake my head despite feeling like my gut is digesting itself. “I don’t want to make a bad impression.”
My brother gets sarcastic. “I know the owner. You do, too. Latson will understand.”
“Pete.” I’m agitated because no matter what I do I don’t feel good. “I’ve been lying around all day. Maybe if I move I will feel better.”
Ever since I woke up this morning I’ve had this gnawing sensation under my ribs. It started out as a dull ache but got worse the longer I laid on the couch. Food doesn’t usually bother me, so I’m not sure what is going on. All I know is that I’d like it to stop.
“Well, tell me if you change your mind,” my brother says. “Carter can handle the door and the girls can handle the bar if you need to leave.”
My eyes dart to my coworkers. Mina and Maggie talk while they set up. When Pete introduced us tonight I got the typical “new girl” once over. I’ve been in this situation before and I expected it; the last thing I need to do is leave early. I have to prove that I deserve the job I was given, even more so since I’m Pete’s sister. Three main bartenders have been the status quo at Torque since it opened. Now that I’m number four, even for a brief time, I have to pull my weight. People don’t like to have their hours threatened, especially when they rely on tips. Also, Pete let me in on some behind-the-scenes information: both of the girls calling off the other night didn’t sit well with Latson. I’m sure they think he’s looking to replace one of them, which makes my presence even more awkward.
I turn my attention back to my brother. “I’ll be all right. This thing will pass sooner or later.”
Pete looks uncertain. I shoo him away with a wave of my hand. “Don’t you have somewhere to be? We open in, like, twenty minutes.”
“Fine,” he says and heads toward the main doors. Satisfied, I walk over to the register to count the change in the drawer. Just as I grab the stack of one dollar bills, a sharp pain flashes across my stomach. I double over as much as I can without anyone noticing.
Ouuuuuuch, I mentally groan. What is this? On my first break, I’m calling my mom. She’ll know what to do. I know I’m an adult, but you never get over the need for motherly advice. Moms know everything.
“I’ve been thinking.”
My head snaps up. Latson is standing opposite me wearing half a grin. “Did it hurt?” I ask.
“Funny,” he says. He moves to the other side of the register, so he’s closer to me. “Don’t pretend like you didn’t have a good time the other day.”
“Who’s pretending? Your nephew is adorable. I had a great time.”
“Good.”
After I got my full tour – and I mean full tour – of the shark exhibit, Oliver asked me to have lunch with him and his uncle at the aquarium cafeteria. While we feasted on chicken fingers and French fries, Oliver quizzed me on all the shark facts he taught me earlier. Then, we spent some time in the gift shop where Oliver tried to talk Latson into buying him a book about whales. Apparently he has all the books about sharks. When Latson said no, I fake pouted alongside Oliver until his uncle caved. When it was time to leave, Latson made a big deal about me following them home, which Oliver thought was hilarious until he learned I really am staying in the same building. When he found out I was neighbor Pete’s sister, he hugged me. When that little boy’s arms wrapped around my waist, my heart puddled for the second time that day. I don’t think anyone has ever been that excited to be near me.
Another weird pain hits my stomach and I try to ignore it by shutting the register drawer. “So, about your thoughts?”
Latson steps back and takes off his leather jacket. He holds his arms out to the side. “Your reason for not letting me down has been negated.”
Huh? I look at his shirt and it clicks. Instead of his usual plain white tee, he’s wearing a navy blue one with white lettering.
“No pants are the best pants,” I read, then raise an eyebrow.
“It’s the truth,” he says with a sexy smile.
I wish I didn’t feel so shitty. I can’t banter with him in this condition. All I can muster is a sarcastic, “Classy.”
“You said nothing about class.” Latson lowers his arms. “All you said was I couldn’t wear white shirts.”
“No. I said you shouldn’t wear them all of the time.”
“Stop trying to come up with loopholes.” He walks up to the bar and sets his hands against the top. “You’re out of reasons. Admit it.”
I point at the word Torque scrawled across my shirt. “Still your employee,” I say.
He smirks.
People start to enter through the front doors and they grab my attention. “Looks like I have a job to do.” I glance over at Mina and Maggie to see if they’re ready and catch both of them watching Latson and me. They have confused looks on their faces.
Great. Not only am I their manager’s sister, it’s obvious I know the boss.
Ugh.
I step to the side so Latson is out of my way. When I do, a horrible pain shoots across my belly. I clutch the edge of the bar for support as it crawls under my ribs and burns its way up into my chest. It hurts so much, I can barely breathe.
“Jen?”
I try to answer but I can’t. All I can do is concentrate on taking short breaths as my body breaks out in a cold sweat.
“Jen. What’s wrong?”
I have no fucking clue,but I think I’m dying. I try to send the message to Latson telepathically, because there’s no way I can talk. A wave of nausea washes over me and suddenly the floor seems like a good place to be. My vision blurs as my knees buckle and I land on my hip behind the bar.
“Jen!”
I hear the scuffle of feet and feel someone grab under my arms before my head hits the tile. “Get Pete!”
I think that was Maggie. My eyes close. God, I hurt. Make it stop.
The next thing I know, I’m floating. At least it feels like I’m floating. I don’t have the energy to open my eyes. I’m still trying to take little breaths, to try and keep my stomach and my chest from burning. It doesn’t work. Nothing works.
“What happened?” It’s Pete.
“I don’t know. She passed out.” Latson’s voice is muffled and I realize he’s carrying me. I hear a door. “Felix! Get my car!”